On

Hamdeen Sabbahi and Mohamed ElBaradei of the National Salvation Front (NSF) will not meet US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Egypt, said Heba Yassin of the Popular Current Party.

The United States insists on painting a positive image of President Mohamed Morsy, despite the criticisms and demands of the opposition, the political figures claim.

Kerry is visiting Egypt early in March. It is his first visit to the country since he took over from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this month. Kerry plans to meet with Egyptian officials to discuss regional and international issues.

US President Barack Obama had told Morsy on the phone that Kerry would meet government officials and opposition forces in an effort to encourage collaboration, and support the nation’s burgeoning democracy.

The NSF is boycotting the parliamentary elections scheduled for 22 April on the grounds that there are no guarantees for the integrity of the electoral process, and no neutral government to oversee and manage it.

“There is US pressure on the opposition to support the Muslim Brotherhood, Washington’s allies in Egypt,” Yassin said. “The boycott puts Morsy in a predicament that the United States is trying to avoid.”